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H.G. Wells: A BBC Radio Drama Collection

by: BBC Radio 4

Publication date: 1974-04-04

Topics: Radio, Drama

Language: English

Item Size: 744.1M

Herbert George Wells was an English writer. Prolific in many genres, he wrote more than fifty novels and dozens of short stories. Wells is now best remembered for his science fiction novels and has been called the "father of science fiction”.

In addition to his fame as a writer, he was prominent in his lifetime as a forward-looking, even prophetic social critic who devoted his literary talents to the development of a progressive vision on a global scale. A futurist, he wrote a number of utopian works and foresaw the advent of aircraft, tanks, space travel, nuclear weapons and satellite television

This collection brings together BBC Radio dramatisations and readings of some of Wells’ most notable works of fiction.

The Time Machine

Transported to the year AD 802701, the Time Traveller encounters the peaceful Eloi, a beautiful elfin race of childlike adults afraid of the dark, and with good reason. Beneath the earth’s surface live the Morlocks, apish troglodytes who torment the Eloi. When the time machine is stolen, the Time Traveller must enter Morlock territory if he ever hopes to return home.

Time traveller ...... Robert Glenister

HG Wells ...... William Gaunt

Young Wells ...... Gunnar Cauthery

Martha ...... Donnla Hughes

Filby ...... Stephen Critchlow

Bennett ...... Chris Pavlo

Mrs Watchett ...... Manjeet Mann

Weena ...... Jill Cardo

Other parts played by Robert Lonsdale, Inam Mirza and Dan Starkey

Dramatised by Phillip Osment

Directed by Jeremy Mortimer

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2009

The Wonderful Visit

Everyday life in a small English village is completely disrupted when the vicar accidentally shoots and wounds an angel who's somehow flown off-course.

Vicar ...... Bernard Cribbins

Angel ...... Richard Pearce

Miss Hinijer ...... Margot Boyd

Dr Crump ...... Norman Bird

Storyteller ...... Kim Wall

Dramatised by Stephen Gallagher

Directed by Martin Jenkins

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 1988

The Island Of Dr Moreau

Edward Prendick, the single survivor of a shipwreck, is rescued by Montgomery in a vessel carrying a menagerie of savage animals. Taken to an uncharted island, he meets Dr Moreau – a brilliant scientist whose notorious experiments have caused him to abandon the civilised world. It soon becomes clear he has been developing these experiments – with truly horrific results.

Montgomery ....... Kenneth Colley

Prentice ....... Kim Wall

Prentice's Nephew ....... Neal Foster

Dr Moreau ....... Garard Green

Captain Jones ....... Peter Meakin

Helmar ....... Richard Mitchley

M'Ling ....... Terry Molloy

Constans ....... Danny Schiller

Nurse ....... Janet Dale

Various ....... Alex Jones

Dramatised by David Calcutt

Directed by Nigel Bryant.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 1990

The Invisible Man

When a strange man takes shelter at an inn, his skin covered from head to toe in bandages, he causes distrust. Griffin, a scientist, reveals that he has successfully managed to turn himself invisible, but alas without a way of undoing it. Desperate for a cure, his ailment drives him to many sinister actions, including murder.

Abridged by Janet Bridgeman

Performed by Stephen Murray

Produced by Gordon House

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 1976

The War Of The Worlds

When Earth is invaded by Martians in great mechanical tripods, terror ensues. They are equipped with heat rays and poisonous black gas, intent on wiping out the human race. During the destruction, one man’s story details the monstrous invasion and his struggle to find his wife in the devastation.

Robert .... Blake Ritson

Billy .... Samuel James

Ogilvy .... John Dougall

Margaret .... Sanchia McCormack

Curate .... Carl Prekopp

Gus .... David Sterne

Dora .... Maeve Bluebell Wells

Vicar .... Finlay Robertson

Carswell .... Nick Murchie

Woman 1 .... Sarah Ridgeway

Woman 2 .... Georgie Glen

Constable .... John Bowler

Telegraph .... David Sturzaker

Dramatised by Melissa Murray

Directed by Marc Beeby

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2017

Love and Mr Lewisham

Young, impoverished and ambitious, science student Mr Lewisham is pursuing former sweetheart, Ethel Henderson passionately, only to find that she hides a dark secret. For she is involved in a plot of trickery, working as an assistant to her stepfather - a charlatan 'mystic' who earns his living by deluding the weak-willed with sly frauds.

Abridged and performed by Paul Daneman

Directed by Maurice Leach

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 1985

The First Men In The Moon

A chance meeting between penniless businessman Mr Bedford and absentminded scientist Dr Cavor leads the two on a fantastical journey to the moon. However, they are unprepared for what they find: freezing nights, boiling days and sinister alien life. Will they be trapped forever?

Bedford .... Hywel Bennett

Cavor .... William Rushton

Wendigee .... David March

Phi-oo .... Paul Rosebury

Grand Lunar .... Stephen Garlick

Spargus .... Malcolm Gerard

Quaid .... David McAlister

Dramatised by Terry James

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 1981

Kipps

Arthur ‘Artie’ Kipps leaves school, and his first love Ann, when he’s apprenticed to a Folkestone draper. His life – and fortune - changes dramatically when he answers an advertisement in a newspaper.

HG Wells ... Paul Daneman

Kipps ... Mark Straker

Chitterlow ... Nickolas Grace

Miss Walshingham ... Kathryn Hurlbutt

Emily ... Rosalind Ayres

Uncle .... John Hollis

Aunt ... Jane Wenham

Sid Pornick ... Michael Jenner

Ann ... Moir Leslie

Driver ... Jon Strickland

Mr Shalford .. Michael Bilton

Carshot ... Christopher Biggins

Buggins ... John Webb

Flo ... Helen Atkinson-Wood

Chester Coote .... Christopher Good

Henry Walshingham ... Spencer Banks

Miss Lomax ... Margot Boyd

Adapted by Michelene Wandor

Directed by Martin Jenkins.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 1984

Tono-Bungay

Presented as a miraculous cure-all, Tono-Bungay is in fact nothing other than a pleasant-tasting liquid with no positive effects. Nonetheless, when the young George Ponderevo is employed by his uncle Edward to help market this ineffective medicine, he finds his life overwhelmed by its sudden success. George .... Neil Dudgeon

Uncle Teddy .... James Laurenson

Aunt Susan .... Diane Bull

Beatrice .... Claire Holman

The Nurse .... Geraldine Fitgerald

Dramatised by Nigel Gearing

Directed by Claire Grove

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 1993

Ann Veronica

This witty and lively tale sees Ann Veronica living alone in London in her quest for liberation but it's an uphill struggle; she has to fight off the sexual advances of a so called friend, discovers the love of her life is married, and gets arrested and imprisoned for a suffragette raid on the House of Commons.

Ann Veronica .... Amy Hoggart

Mr Stanley .... Geoffrey Whitehead

H.G. Wells .... Bill Nighy

Aunt Molly .... Ruth Alexander-Rubin

Kitty Brett .... Verity Henry

Manning .... Toby Hadoke

Ramage .... Jonathan Keeble

Dramatised by Ellen Dryden and Lavinia Murray

Directed by Pauline Harris

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2017

The History of Mr Polly

Mr Polly is an ordinary middle-aged man who is tired of his wife's nagging and his dreary job as the owner of a regional gentleman's outfitters. Faced with the threat of bankruptcy, he concludes that the only way to escape his frustrating existence is by burning his shop to the ground, and killing himself.

Alfred Polly .... Christopher Guinnea

Miriam .... Elizabeth Proud

The Old Lady .... Amy Delamaine

The Gunsmith .... Michael Deacon

Tom .... Paul Myer

Dramatised by Antony Keary

Directed by Graham Gould

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 1978

In the Abyss

Elstead designs a sphere capable of exploring the seabed for the first time. His deep-sea expedition encounters some strange creatures that inhabit the unknown depths. What he finds amazes him.

Adapted by Neville Teller

Performed by Timothy Kitely

Produced by Pamela Howe

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 1978

The Sea Raiders

After a suspicious-looking object is washed in by the tide, flesh-eating monsters from the deep are soon terrorising residents along the Devon coastline.Performed by Robert Bathhurst

Produced by Gemma Jenkins

First broadcast on BBC Radio 7 in January 2006

A Dream of Armageddon

A stranger on a train reveals his secret. When he dreams, he enters a future reality of an advanced civilization descending into senseless war.

Performed by Robert Bathhurst

Produced by Gemma Jenkins

First broadcast on BBC Radio 7 in January 2006

The New Accelerator

In the name of science, HG Wells agrees to sample a new drug designed to speed up both body and mind.

Performed by Robert Bathhurst

Produced by Gemma Jenkins

First broadcast on BBC Radio 7 in January 2006

The Inexperienced Ghost

A man encounters a troubled spirit. But could this meeting lead to tragedy?

Clayton .... Donald Houston

Sanderson .... Christopher Guard

Michael Cochrane .... Wish

John Gillett .... Evans

The Barman .... Gary Cady

Dramatised by Patricia Mays

Directed by Derek Hoddinott

First broadcast on the BBC World Service in February 1982